Soot cleaner for boilers



Feb. 8s

F. W. LINAKER ET AL soOT CLEANER FOR BoILERs 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5. 1921 j n, v

@Mim y Feb, 8, 1927. ,1,616,863

F. W. LINAKER ET AL sooT CLEANER FOR BOILERS Filed March 5, 1921 43 Sheets-Sheet 5 y gwvqmtow:

Patented Feb. i927.

UNITED STATES PATENT-omen 1- FBEDERICK W. LINAKER AND THEODORE M. IBRUBACK, OF DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOO'l CLEANER FOB BOILERS.

Application led March 8, 1921. Serial No. 449,448.

This invention Yrelates to soot cleaners for :removing soot from boiler tubes or lues, by

the injection of a jet orjets of steam or other cleaning fluid, steam being the most commonly used. As applied to water tube boilers, such soot cleaners commonly 1nvolve a movable tube or cleaner element, which is either built into the boiler or 1s insertable therein whenrequired, and 1s commonly movable, either endwise or rotaf tively, or both, toy direct the jet or jets of steam in various directions among the b011- er tubes, for. efectually blowing off the soot therefrom. j As applied to boiler ues, the steam pipe or cleaner element is arranged either to blow a single jet into the flue at one end, or, in the case of large iiues, it ex tends some distance within the iue, and has one or more jet nozzles directing jets of steam longitudinally 'of the Hue. For either type of cleaner, it is customary to control the steam by a hand valve, to admit the steam to the cleaner element, or, in the case of multiple elements, to one such element at a time. In the use of such appliances, it has been found that steam at or above a certain pressure (which may. vary `with different types of apparatus) 1s reouired to effectively remove the soot; and '.hat, when the steam pressure fallsmaterially below such minimum, the cleaning becomes ineffective. In actual practice it is commonly found, especially where many jets arc used simultaneously, that the operating pressure at the jets is reduced too low for efiicient action, This can be corrected only by using fewer liets, or la larger supply pipe, both of which are dsadvantageous. t 'is wel-l recognized that the most efficient cleaning is accomplished with lsteam of high pressure and high superhcat.. To insure ,To insure this intermittent operation, an

intermediate vessel or receiver is provided, into which the steam from the boiler may iow at' an approximately uniform rate and from which steam is discharged to? the cleaner elements, and in which receiver the steam pressure may be subject to considerable iuctuations. The mechanism for in termittently operatin the control valve may, in the preferred orm ofthe apparatus, operate under control of the uctuations of pressure in such receiver.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is an elevation of a boiler'l to which soot clean- `in'g devices controlled according to the pres- Figs..v 2 and 3; the latter an end elevation ofv Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on a still larger scale of a drainv valve.

,Referring to the derstood that Fig. 1 shows merely one of many applications of soot cleaners to which the present invention is suitable. It is well understood in this art that the particular type and arrangement of cleaner elements or steam nozzle pipes must be varied according to the kind' or type of boiler used, and

1n many cases also according to special local conditions.

Taking, however, as an example, the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, and assuming that steam is used as the cleaning Huid, this.

steam enters by a supply pipe 8 and passes through the steam chamber or receiver 9 and interrupter mechanism 10 into the header or main pipe 12, and thence, through branch pipes or risersy7, 7, to the respective cleaner elements which, in the present example, are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The cleaner elements shown are of the rotary type, that is, a steam pipe passes transversely across the furnace chambervabove, below, or among the boiler tubes, and is mounted to be rotated so that the vsteam from its' jet orifices may be projected at varying angles between "the tubes. For this purpose, when the elements are too high to be easily reached, it is. customary to provide a sheave wheel drawings, it willbe un- 'hand-wheel is used for turning it.

turned by hand through a pendent chain 6; in the case of an element like that shown at 4, which is low enough to be Within reach, a Each branch. pipe 7 is `controlled by a hand valve 11 and usually, during the operation of soot cleaning, only one control valve 11 is open at a time, so as to blow steam through only one of the soot cleaner elements.

The steam from admission pipe 8 enters directly into receiver 9 and flows thence through the interruptor 10 under intermittent control of a valve 13 which is opened and closed at suitable intervals of time, by means which will be described presently. The steam enters freely through opening 14 from the receiver to the 'inlet valve chamber, and thence fiows from the outlet valve chamber 15 to the header 12.

The function of the interrupter is to check the flow of steam to the cleaner element when the pressure in the receiver vis dropped to a pre-determined minimum; and to restore the flow of steam when the pressurein the yreceiver has risen again to the boiler pressurev or to a pre-determlned approach thereto. It has been found in practice that the average pressure throughout the length of the cleaner elementswhile in operation is approximately half or less, and in some cases only onefourth ofthe boiler pressure available for cleaning purposes. 1t is well known that the higher the steam pressure and superheat that can be supplied to the jet nozzles 0r orifices of the cleaning elements, the more efficient and the quicker will be the cleaning action. Heretofore, this has in many cases been attainable only by using large sized pipes between the source of steam` and the cleaner element, which makes the apparatus expensive. 1

Vaccording to the present invention, the receiver 9 is introduced between the steam supply and the cleaner elements, or the header 12 distributing the steam to such elements, and has a capacity which is suitably proportioned to the particular requirements of the cleaner apparatus. When the outiow valve 13 is closed and the admission valve to the receiver 9 is open, the pressure in the receiver rises to the pressure of the steam supply. lVhen any distributing valve 11 is open and the valve 13 opens, the steam flows from the receiver to the cleaner element, the outflow from the receiver being at a rate more rapid than the inflow thereto, so that the pressure in the receiver falls. When this pressure has decreased to a predetermined point, as for example 25 or 30 per cent of the boiler pressure, the interrupter mechanism operates 'to close the valve 13, whereby steam is temporarily cutoff from the cleaner element, while the boiler continues to supply steam to the receiver1 whereby the pressure in the 'latter' can raise to, or

without regard to intervals of time.

lboiler pressure).

nearly to, boiler pressure; on the latter pressure, or ,any determined maximum pressure being reached in the receiver, the .valve 13 may be reopened, permitting the further outflow of steam to the cleaner element. This intermittent opening and closing of the valve 13 is repeated as long as the distributing valve 11 to any element is kept open.

- The particular interrupter mechanism will now be described, taking up first the pressure control mechanism shown in Fig` 3: In this construction, the interrupter valve 13 is operated under control of pressure actuated pistons in such manner that, when the pressure in the receiver falls to a determined minimum, the valve 13 is closed; and when such pressure rises toa determined maximum, the valve 13 is opened. Thus, the operation of the valve 13 is controlled wholly by the differences in pressure, nd

bviously, various pressure-controlled means may be provided for thus operating the 'valve 13, the particular means for -this purpose which is shown being given only as one example. v

This particular mechanism comprises three plungers 16, 17 and 18, exposed on their under sides to thesteam chamber 22, which is -in free communication, through opening 14 with the receiver, and receiving on their upper sides the downward pressure of springs marked respectively 160, 17() and 180. These springs react upwardly against screw plugs 161, 171 and 181, respectively, by which the spring stresses may be adjusted if required. The plugs have vents 28.'

The size and compression of spring 180 is such thatplunger 18 can be lifted only by the maximum steam pressure in chamber 22, (for example, 100 per cent of the boiler pressure). The spring 170 affords such pressure that Vplunger 17 will lift when a certain lower pressure (for example, 75 .per cent of the boiler pressure) exists in chamber 22. Spring 160 has such pressure-that plunger 16 may be lifted by the minimum steam pressure `(for example, 5() per cent of the Each plunger has a peripheral groove `19, the three grooves being located at different levels; balls 20 and 21 are located in transverse openings in the cylinder walls between the respective plungers, at appropriate levels, each ball being of such size thatwhen the grooved portion of one plunger coincides with it and it is against the ungrooi-ed portion of the other plunger, it cannot escape from such grooved portion, and, consequently, holds fixedly in position the plunger whose groove it engages. Tn the position shown in Fig. 3, the balls 20 and 21 are 4thus locking fast the plungers 17 andy 16, the valve 13 is closed, and the plunger 18 is free or unlocked. Thus, while` the steam pressure 1s rising from the mininto such groove and out of the groove of.

plunger 17, which is accordingly unlocked, and, as the pressure beneath it exceeds the resistance of spring 170, this plunger immediately rises; on its groove 19 reaching the level of ball 21, the latter ball likewise shifts laterally into vsuch groove and thereby vunlocks plunger 16,-which also immediately rises, because the steam pressure beneath it is in excess of the pressure of spring. 160. The lifting of plunger 17, which isconnected to valve 13 by steln 130, `lifts the valve and permits the outflow of -steam fromthe receiver to the header 12 and cleaner element. Such outflow continues until the steam pressure in 22 falls to the minimum because plungers 18 and 17 are locked in their upper positions and cannot be forced down by their springs until plunger 16 1s first caused to descend, which occurs only when-the steam pressure falls low enough to enable the weaker spring 160 to act. Thereupon, as plunger 16 falls to its position shown, the ball 21 shifts laterally into its groove, thus unlocking plunger 17, which is instantly pressed down by its spring, 1 n turn permitting ball to resume the posltion shown, and unlock plunger 18, which also descends. The descent of plunger 17 closes valve 13 and stops the outow of steam, permitting the premure in the receiver to again rise. This intermittent operation continues as long as any distributing or control valve 11 remains open.

The movements of the pistons, as they are successively unlocked, would be very abrupt,`

so that the valve 13 would seat with considerable shock, if some means were not provided for cushioning its movement. For this purpose, a dash pot 23 is provided, shown as a plunger connected to the valve and working in a cylinder chamber beneath, this chamber 25 below the plunger' being vented, through a small bore 24, into a chamber 26 on the under side of the Valve. is a vent duct 27 to balance the pressure in the chamber 26 with that in chamber 22. This dash pot device cushions both movements of the valve. Similar dash pots may be provided for cushioning the movements of the plungers 16 and 18. vSuch cushioning means are not shown, but the plungers are shown provided with prolonged stems 30, 31, which serve as stops to limit their movements. For draining condensation from the -in Fig. 6. A similar drain valve may be applied at 28 beneath the receiver 9. When there is'steam pressure in the chamber 26 or Through the valve receiver 9, the ball of the drain valve is forced to its seat and .closes the opening; v

when the pressure is removed, the ballfalls and water can drain out.

The interrupter shown in Figs. 4 and 5 operates the "alve 13 mechanically and independently of the pressures in the receiver 9. The inlet 14 from the receiver admits steam beneath the valve 13 and, when the valve is lifted, the steam escapes throughi chamber 15, to the pipe 12. `The valve isoperated intermittently by cam mechanism or other intermediary from any convenient source of power, that shown being an electric motor 35, which drives a gear wheel 36 having a cam 37 which operates a lever 38, the short arm of which is connected, by a link 39, to the valve rod 40, which passes through suitable stuflng boxes and receives the downward pressure of a spring 41 to close the valve. The motor (or other source of v power) wlll rotate at a constant speed, and

hence the valve will be opened and closed at regular intervals of time. When-this type of' mechanism is used, it is necessary to determine the conditions required for the specific installation. and to so proportion kthe speed of the wheel 36 and length of the cam 37 as to afford the proper timing so as, on the one' hand to permit the discharge of steam through the cleaner element long enough each time to perform the cleaning operation, and then aiord sufficient time for building up the required maximum pressure in the receiver. These conditions 'can be varied by changing the speed of rotation of the motor, or by changing the gearing down ratio, or by varying the length of the cam segment 37. l

The two interrupter mechanisms shown lare given by way of examples, it being understood that theyinvention may be otherwise applied, depending upon the conditions presented in any specific instance, such as Kthe boiler pressure, the discharge capacity of the cleaner nozzles. the capacity of the receiver, and the'source of power most conveniently available for operating the interrupter. It is to be understood that the construction in anyl case may be varied to any desired extent, within the scope of theap-f pended claims.

What is claimed is 1. The combination of a soot cleaner, a source of cleaning fluid under pressure, an interposed receiver, a pipe leading from said source to the receiver, and an interrupter controllin the flow lof fluid from the receiver to the c eaner.. having means for intermittently operating the interrupter to hold it open to blow out the major part of the contents of the receiver through the cleaner, and y then to close it and hold it closed long enough to-permit lthe receiver to refill to normal pressure.

lan

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, the means for intermittently operating the interruptor being pressure-operated.

' 3. The combination witha soot cleaner and a source of fluid under pressure, of an intervening receiver, a pipe leading from said source lto the receiver, and an vinterrupter at the outlet from the receiver to the cleaner for intermitting the flow from the receiver to the cleaner, comprising a valve 'and means actuated by the variations of pressure in the receiver adapted to open said valve at a prescribed maximum pressure and to close it at, a prescribed minimum pressure.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, the pressure actuated means comprising springpressed plungers, the one movable under a maximum pressure and the other under a minimum pressure. and means for communieating their alternate movements tothe valve.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, the

pressure actuated means comprising three.

spring-pressed plungers responding respectively to minimum, interme iate and maximum pressures, the intermediate plunger connected to actuate said valve, and connections between the minimum and maximum plungers for controlling the movements of the valve, to. open it upon= the maximum pressure and close it upon the minimum pressure. A j

In witness whereof, We have hereunto signed our names.

FREDERICK W. LINAKER. THEODORE M. BRUBACK. e 

